Maurice Edu and Rangers responded with authority following their midweek Scottish Cup loss with a thumping of Hearts on Saturday afternoon at Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh.

Edu was a 62nd minute substitute for Lee McCulloch in the Rangers midfield. Compatriot DaMarcus Beasley made the gameday roster but did not see any action.

If Rangers boss Walter Smith had any fears that his squad would still be hungover from Wednesday's cup defeat at Dundee United, Danny Wilson would put those to rest with a goal in just the fourth minute of play.

A cross into the penalty area saw the young Wilson leap up and head the ball past Hearts goalkeeper Jamie McDonald from 18 yards out to put the Light Blues ahead.

Hearts would equalize eleven minutes later when a mistake by Bosnian Sasa Papc enabled Hearts to score. Papac failed to clear a dangerous ball into the area and Suso Santana made him pay by sending a volley past Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

But Rangers would pick themselves back up in the 30th minute with a goal from Kenny Miller who started up front alongside normal strike partner Kris Boyd.

Steven Naismith received an entry pass from Boyd but Naismith's shot ricocheted back into play and Miller was there to head it in.

The goal was a huge boost to the visitors who entered the break with the lead and would only need three minutes in the second half to find their third goal of the match.

Steven Whittaker delivered a pass to an unmarked Naismith who cleverly chipped a shot past MacDonald and into the net.

Fifteen minutes later Smith called on Edu to replace McCulloch, who had already received an earlier yellow card, and the Californian anchored down the defensive midfield helping rebuff any attacks from the hosts.

Rangers put the match away in the 76th minute with another goal from Naismith who was once again left unmarked in the area. His glancing header off a Kevin Thomson cross sent MacDonald flailing and put Rangers back on the winning track.

With the victory, Rangers remain in first place in the Scottish Premier League standings with a 10 point advantage over Old Firm rivals Celtic and with two matches in hand.

Edu and Beasley will enjoy another midweek tilt as Rangers travel up to Perth on Tuesday to take on St. Johnstone.